The Number Ones

Sammy Kershaw had only been recording for four years when he released The Hits, Chapter 1, but its appearance didn't seem premature. During that time, he had racked up a considerable number of Top Ten country hits, including the number ones "National Working Woman's Holiday" and "She Don't Know She's Beautiful." Both of those songs are included, as well as eight others that prove why he was one of the most popular country singers in the early '90s.

It is somewhat bewildering that no true, complete American retrospective exists on one of its most successful, enduring and beloved duos, Daryl Hall and John Oates, who, at their time, were the most successful duo in rock & roll's short history. This Danish two-CD compilation collects all their essential hits, as well as some rarities. All the number ones and Top Ten hits are here, including "Sara Smile," "She's Gone," "Rich Girl," "Kiss on My List," "You Make My Dreams," "Private Eyes," "Did It in a Minute," "Maneater," "One on One," "Family Man," "Say It Isn't So," "Out of Touch," "Adult Education," "Method of Modern Love," "Everything Your Heart Desires," and the enduring, oft-covered and sampled "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)."

Helen Reddy began performing at the age of four in her native Australia; by the early 60s she had her own television series. Between 1971 and 1978, Reddy hit the Top 40 fourteen times with her smooth, airy light-pop singles, including the number ones "Delta Dawn," "Angie Baby," and "I Am Woman." As her hits petered out toward the end of the '70s, her acting work increased, including roles in Pete's Dragon, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Airport 1975.

This is an excellent Mahler Ninth. It does not feature the tortured anguish of Bernstein (Sony & DG), the elegant pain of Giulini (DG), or the stately gloom of Walter (Sony), but, like Libor Pesek (Virgin Classics), it successfully straddles more than a few fences. But "straddling fences" does not imply it's middle-of-the-road–it is, in fact, more middle-of-the-night. Dohnányi often makes inner voices turn disruptive, yet coaxes the strings to sound both sweet and eerie in their heavy use of portamento; and he is scrupulous in extracting just about every last meaningful detail in this monumental work.

Although best known for the AOR and radio hits from the early 1980s (which included the number ones ‘Keep On Loving You’ and ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling’), R.E.O. Speedwagon’s long history goes way back to their formation in Champaign, Illinois in 1967.